Petefia



W. H. LEWIS.

CAMERA STAND.

(No Model.)

No. 312,363. Patented Feb. 17, 1835.

UN VHN TOR I WITNESSES ATTORNEYS N4 PETERS. PMlo-Lllhogrip'ler, Washinghm QQ Unuren Sra'rns PATENT @rrrcn.

\VILLIAM HENRY LElVlS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO E. 86 H. T. ANTHONY & CO., OF SAME PLACE.

CAM ERA-STAN D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312.363, dated February 17, 1885.

Application filed September 11, 1884. (So model.)

T 0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. LEWIS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Camera-Stand, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

My improvements relate to the portable tripod-stands used for supporting cameras, which have heretofore been made separable and so as to be folded in compact shape .for trans portation.

The invention consists in e rtain features of construction of the folding legs and in means for retaining them in connection with the top or base that receives the camera, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved camera-stand. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the top plate or table. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the 'line 00 ac, and Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 3 y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of one leg. Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations representing the hinge improve ment in larger size. Fig. 8 is a cross-section in larger size on the line 0 c, Fig. 6.

A A are the legs of the stand, supporting the top plate or table, 13. Each leg Ais formed of three pieccsname1y, a lower portion, a, and two upperportions, 1) bwhich have mortises at their upper ends engaging pins 0, that project from plates d, attached upon the under side of the table. The portions b of the legs are attached to plates e on the lower part, a, by means of pins f, that pass through the projecting ends or sides of the plates and through the ends of the leg portions 1) b, so as to form a hinge-joint that allows the two pieces I) Z) to be turned outward and folded against the opposite sides of the pieces a. Thehinge-pins are a short distance from the end of the piece a, so that when the parts I) b are turned upward in position for use the end of the piece ais between them and formsasupport that prevents them from closing together beyond a certain point, and thereby giving to these parts I) a certain amount of spring that serves to retain them in connection with the pins 0 on the table. The plates 0 are extended to the end of the piece a and project at each side, so as to form sockets for preventing any lateral moveinent or twisting of the parts. The two plates 6 are connected by pins k, which, passing each side of the part a, prevent the plates from turning. On one plate aclamping-piece, Z, is attached by screws m, that pass through both plates, and a screw, 2', is tapped through the piece I, so as to bear on one plate, e, and thus clamp the leg portion a. This construction allows the legs to be shortened andlengthened so as to regulate the height of the stand, as when the clamp is loosened the part a is free to slide endwise between the two plates eand the upper portions, 1) b.

In order to prevent accidental disconnection of the legs from the table, the latter is provided with spring-arms g, which project between the leg portions 1) b, thereby preventing the parts I) from closingtogether and coming off of the pins. In the'form shown the spring-arms g are connected together at the center, and are attached to the table by means of the screw h at the center, this being the same screw that holds the camera to the table as usual; but I do not limit myself with respect to the form of the spring-arms or the manner of attaching them to the table. When the legs are to be detached, the arms are pressed against the under side of the table to allow the leg portions 1) b to be sprung together and oif the pins.

The clamping device may be omitted when lengthwise adjustment is not needed, as shown in Fig. 5. In that case the upper ends of plates 6 will be pinned to part a, and the legs can then be folded in the same manner as described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a camerastand, the folding legs consisting of the portions a b I), connected by hinge-plates e, which allow the parts b b to be turned outward in opposite directions, substantially as described.

2. In a camerastand, the plates 6, combined with the leg portions a b b, so as to serve as hinges and as a lateral support to the joint, substantially as described.

IOC

3. In a camera-stand, the spring-arms g, I substantially in the manner and for the purcombined with the table B and the leg portions b b, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In acamera-stand, the combination, with the table B and the leg portions b I), connected with pins 0 upon the table, of arms attached to the table and projecting between the parts b' b, for retaining them in place, substantially as described.

5. In a camera-stand, the combination of the piece I and screw z with the hinge-plates e,

pose specified.

6. A leg for camera-stands, constructed so as to be folded, and adjustable in length by an endwise movement of the parts, two of the I parts being adapted to be turned outward and folded against the opposite sides of the other part, substantially as described.

WILLIAM HENRY LEWIS. Witnesses,

EDGAR TATE, EDWARD G. CORWITII. 

